Timberwolves win on home ice, take 1-0 lead in division final

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For the first time in this year's playoff run the Woodstock Slammers allowed more than one goal in a game, and for the first time they were unable to come out on top.

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PHOTO BY DARCEY MCLAUGHLIN

Slammers captain Dan Dooley carries the pack along the boards in Miramichi on Saturday night. Despite a strong effort by Woodstock, the Timberwolves took advantage of some unusual bounces to earn a 3-2 win in game one.

PHOTO BY DARCEY MCLAUGHLIN

Slammers’ Kyle Moje prepares to launch a backhander on Timberwolves netminder Evan Mosher during opening game action in the MJAHL Meek Division finals. The Miramichi goalie played a strong game, turning away 38 of 40 Woodstock shots on route to a 3-2 win.

The Miramichi Timberwolves bested the Slammers by a final score of 3-2 in Miramichi on Saturday night to take a 1-0 lead in their Meek division final series. The loss put Woodstock the downside of the score sheet for the first time in over three weeks.

Still, the game was hardly a total loss, said Slammers head coach Jason Tatarnic.

"I thought we played well. We had a great first period and you could see they were getting frustrated. It just seems, every time we play in that rink, they get some kind of bounce, something goes their way. But I think we left there thinking we can go into Miramichi and win."

Things looked good for Woodstock early on as forward Ky Moje scored his second goal of the playoffs five minutes into the opening period to give the Slammers an early lead.

Woodstock held the lead until midway through the second frame when Timberwolves forward Dylan Bellmore took advantage of a lucky bounce during a Miramichi power play, as the puck was redirected by a linesman onto Bellmore's stick for a breakaway goal, allowing the Timberwolves to pull even.

You never like to see goals like that in a playoff game, said Tatarnic.

"The linesmen got in the way of the play and Bellmore got a breakaway. It was hard to swallow to see them get a breakaway and a goal off that play. It was a bad bounce for us and it gave them some life."

With Woodstock still reeling from the tying marker, Adam Roos of the Timberwolves gave his squad the lead at 2-1 after two periods.

With the opening whistle of the third period still echoing through the rink in Miramchi, Paul Ross of the Timberwolves padded the lead for his team with a goal just 16 second into the frame, putting Miramichi ahead 3-1.

The third goal was another tough one for the Slammers, said Tatarnic.

"The puck was kind of rolling when they shot it and it dipped on MacFarlane. It was kind of a fluky goal. It was hard to deal with."

Still, the Slammers fought back, as Kyle Chagnon scored his fourth of the playoffs mid-way through the third on a Woodstock power play, pulling the Slammers to within one of their cross-province rival.

Down one and facing a long bus ride home, the team was never out of it on the bench, said Tatarnic.

"You have to give our guys a lot of credit. They didn't give up. They were determined to score."

The team was also spurred on by a strong contingent of fans, who made the long trek on slippery winter roads to cheer for their team.

The fan support was a huge boost, Tatarnic said.

"It was great. It's great to have some fans there cheering you on. Miramichi can be a pretty rowdy place, especially behind our bench, so it was nice to have some support there. I know the guys really appreciate it."

Ultimately though, the effort and support just weren't enough on Saturday, as the Slammers were stymied the rest of the way, and sent back to Carleton County trailing in the series.

Woodstock netminder Ben MacFarlane was once again strong for the Slammers, stopping 30 of 33 shots, while his Timberwolves counterpart Evan Mosher was equally up to the playoff task, turning away 38 of 40 Slammers tries.

Down just one game, the team is hardly panicking as they focus on the next match, said Tatarnic.

"We're not really concentrating on where the series is, if it's 1-0, 2-1 or 3-0. It doesn't matter, our focus is on the very next game, the next shift, the next period."

Going into game two, the plan was simple, said Tatarnic.

"We're going to play the same way, score more goals and not let them score as many."

Elsewhere in the MJAHL playoffs, the top-ranked Yarmouth Mariners and the Pictou County Weeks Crushers are deadlocked at one game apiece, after a 5-0 shutout win by the Mariners on Sunday night.

The Slammers and Timberwolves, who played again on Monday night, will meet next on Wednesday in Miramichi, before returning to Woodstock for game four on Friday night. The puck drops at 7:30 at the Carleton Civic Centre.